Creation Talent

“A new quest popped up right away.”

Kim Jihun was brimming with motivation. The quest wasn't too hard, and the Creation Force reward was huge compared to the effort. He resolved to keep tackling them.

Kim ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Jihun spent the whole night immersed in the quest, burning through Creation Force.

…

“Jihun...?”

Seo Yerim called out to him with a worried look. Jihun turned to her at the sound of her voice.

“Yeah?”

“Did you not sleep at all? You look awful.”

Kim Jihun glanced at the mirror in the corner at her comment. Sure enough, his reflection showed clear signs of exhaustion.

He made a casual excuse for her concern. “I got into a good study groove last night and pulled an all-nighter. Didn't get any sleep.”

“I see. Studying's great, but take breaks. Managing your condition is key.”

Seo Yerim gave him some sincere advice, her face still etched with worry. Her pure concern made Jihun feel a pang of guilt for lying.

Kim Jihun asked her, “Oh, by the way, how's your dad doing these days? Is he recovering well?”

“Yeah. Looks like he'll be discharged in about a week.”

“That's a relief.”

In other words, in a week, Kim Jihun wouldn't need to work at the bookstore anymore. With a flicker of hope, he asked, “So, once he's better, I can stop coming in?”

“Yep. I'll let you know when his discharge date's set.”

“Got it.”

Kim Jihun nodded at her firm answer.

Does that mean my bookstore part-time gig is ending in a week?

Her confirmation brought a sense of relief. He'd gotten through it without any major incidents or setbacks, which put his mind at ease.

Made some money, studied on the side. Not bad at all.

Kim Jihun had no regrets about the job. It wasn't big money, but he'd earned some, squeezed in college entrance exam prep, and gotten closer to Seo Yerim to boot.

“Even after I quit, I'll swing by often.”

“Hehe, you better.”

Kim Jihun planned to keep visiting the store after quitting. He'd been a regular anyway.

…

“Can you ring this up?”

A woman handed over a book. Kim Jihun scanned the barcode and tallied it.

“32,000 won. Want it in a paper bag?”

“Yes, please.”

With practiced hands, Kim Jihun wrapped the book and slipped it into the bag. The woman watched his quick, deft movements. His thin shirt did little to hide the masculine muscles rippling underneath.

She admired his flexing forearms.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Handsome and built.

The woman stared blankly at Kim Jihun. Oblivious to her gaze, he handed over the bag.

“Here you go.”

Even as he offered it, she didn't move, just kept staring at his face with dazed eyes.

Kim Jihun asked, puzzled, “Ma'am?”

“Oh, yes! Here. I'll pay with this card.”

Her face flushed red as she fumbled through checkout and snatched the bag, bolting for the exit.

Kim Jihun watched her go and muttered, “What was that about?”

He glanced at the counter. There sat her forgotten credit card.

“She left her card. Name's...”

The card read Chae Seong-ah.

“I'll give it back next time she comes in.”

He tucked it neatly into the lost-and-found.

…

“Take care!”

“You too! Get home safe!”

With Seo Yerim's farewell behind him, Jihun stepped out of Yelim Bookstore. A chilly winter wind tousled his hair.

“Another day done. Just a week more of this part-time gig.”

He walked along, mumbling to himself. He'd worked diligently at the bookstore, studying in his downtime. Now he was earning cash while prepping for the exam.

A satisfied smile on his face, Jihun headed home.

“Hey! Kim Jihun!”

It was just then, as he walked. Someone called his name. He turned toward the voice.

“Oh, Seokho.”

It was his best friend, Han Seokho, jogging up.

“Where you headed?”

“Just finished my shift, going home. You?”

“PC bang.”

Seokho had been in the same class as Jihun for three years. Outgoing and sociable, he had tons of friends—which was how he stayed tight with Jihun despite the guy's low-key vibe.

Jihun said to him, “You're heading to college next year, huh? Lucky.”

“What's lucky about it? It's not even a great school. I don't wanna go, but Mom's insisting.”

Seokho wasn't the sharpest, and he didn't study much either. His grades were meh. But unlike Jihun's family, his was well-off, so college was in the cards anyway.

Kim Jihun couldn't help envying him.

College without money worries...

He was scraping together retake funds from part-time work—no cram school or tutors, just pure self-study. Yet Seokho, who barely cared about studying, was college-bound, no financial stress.

For someone like Jihun, it was enviable.

“Must be nice, college without thinking about cash. I'm doing my retake while working.”

“Retake?”

Seokho blinked at the word. That's when Jihun realized he'd never mentioned retaking to his friends.

“Oh, guess I didn't tell you. Yeah, I'm retaking. Aim's Seoul National University.”

“SNU? Our scores were about the same, right? Even with a retake, that seems tough...”

Han Seokho looked concerned. He didn't know how much Jihun's smarts had skyrocketed in the past month. Three weeks of study had him eyeing top scores already. Jihun brimmed with confidence.

“Nah, I can do it.”

“Really?”

Jihun stated it with total conviction. Seokho brushed it off as empty resolve.

I wanna shock him.

Jihun felt fired up by the reaction. In three years together, he'd rarely beaten Seokho—at studies (both sucked), sports, or games (Seokho dominated).

What face would he make if I aced the exam and got into a top school?

Jihun wanted to show his changed self to his best friend. And nothing would prove it like nailing SNU.

He vowed to blow Seokho's mind.

The two chatted amiably as they walked, until it was time to split.

“Get home safe. I'm off to the PC bang.”

“Cool.”

They parted at the crosswalk. Then Seokho remembered something.

“Oh yeah, you know we can drink legally next year?”

“Drink?”

Jihun knew too—next year, he'd be a full adult legally. Bars would be fair game.

“Gonna hit a bar with the crew early next year. You in?”

“A bar, huh...”

Jihun had barely touched booze—maybe a sip at family rituals when relatives pushed him. No real chance to enjoy it.

But as an almost-adult, curiosity stirred. What's the hype about?

“Sure, count me in. Text me the date.”

“Sweet! See ya then!”

Next year was less than two weeks away. Jihun would hit a bar soon. He felt a twinge of excitement.

…

Back home, Kim Jihun practiced handling Creation Force.

“Nngh...”

He groaned as it flowed out of him. He was training to create objects.

All things exist.

Reciting the familiar divine incantation, he gathered Creation Force at his fingertips. Golden energy shimmered, forming an object.

“Phew!”

In his hand: a common Monami ballpoint pen.

He was grinding object mimicry for the quest.

“Creating objects is trickier than I thought.”

Simple materials were easy for him. But specific shapes with practical use? That drained power.

A plain ball of one material was worlds apart from complex, precise items.

“A ballpoint pen's got all these parts.”

Monami pens looked simple but were machines: metal spring and tip, plastic body and ink tube, chemical ink fluid. Way harder than basic materials.

“Still, it's rewarding.”

Yesterday's material creation was just useless lumps. Today's objects, even a humble pen, had purpose. He could use it for real.

That kept him from burning out, even with the higher difficulty.

“Yes! Ten done.”

Finally, he'd cleared the quest. Eyes expectant, he eyed the Creator God Manual.

Familiar golden text appeared.

Whoosh!

The text blazed gold, and Creation Force surged into Jihun's body. He felt it swell massively.

“Awesome!”

He let out a triumphant yell. His Creation Force had soared beyond compare, boosting his abilities noticeably.

Skin's smoother, mind sharper than ever.

He'd figured it out: more Creation Force meant better body, brain, even height.

Kim Jihun grinned in satisfaction.

At this rate, I'll look like a celeb for real.

Truth be told, he already outshone most idols. Anyway, he savored the surge—until ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a new quest dropped.